Consignment sale draws 1,000 to Lebanon Valley Expo Center

Melissa Bowman, left, of Schaefferstown and Serena Moore of Myerstown shop for children s toys and clothing during the Berks Kids Closet sale at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center on Saturday. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS BARBARA WEST)

With 2-week-old daughter Keira bundled in a baby carrier on his chest and 3-year-old son Alex in tow, Sean Zellers was on the hunt.

For bargains.

The Annville man was among the more than 1,000 who turned out Saturday for the Berks Kids Closet clothing sale at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center. Carrying a baby bathtub filled with toys, puzzles and books, Zellers said he was pleased with his finds.

"I left my wife loose in one area, and she's getting stuff, and I'm getting some stuff," he said, showing his son a toy fire truck. "I think this is great. Next time we come, we'll bring some of Alex's stuff to sell."

His wife, Holly agreed.

"The prices are very reasonable from what I've seen, and the clothing is in pretty decent condition," she said.

Three-year-old Alex Zellers of Annville plays with his favorite find, a toy crane, on sale at the Berks Kids Closet sale on Saturday. More than 1,000 attended the sale, the second of its kind at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS BARBARA WEST)

"It's a good bargain, especially for those of us who shop around, especially when you have little boys who power through clothing."

The large consignment sale attracted a large crowd in its the second time in Lebanon County, the first back in September. Another is planned for Sept. 7.

Robesonia couple Chris and Judy Dalesandro started Berks Kids Closet five years ago, and the sale has grown ever since.

"Attendance has doubled here since last September," Judy Dalesandro said. "By 7 a.m. (Saturday), people were lined up to come in. ... It was the longest line I've ever seen (at one of the sales). We had a great turnout."

Dalesandro expanded on a friend's idea years ago after a sale in Morgantown.

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A mother of five, Dalesandro said first-hand experience convinced her a consignment sale would receive a favorable response from parents.

"It's so expensive to raise children today and, honestly, I couldn't afford to buy full-price clothing for all my children," she said. "Children grow so fast that practically everything you have is nearly new."

Low prices are the big draw of the Berks Kids Closet sale, with parents able to buy an outfit or pair of shoes for a child for a low price, perhaps only 50 cents.

"So many people benefit from this, it's amazing," Dalesandro said. "When you listen to their stories, you know how important it is. There are so many people that need help."

Clothing sizes range from newborn to teens. And for the first time, maternity clothes were added to the mix. Any merchandise that doesn't sell is donated to two nonprofit agencies, Jubilee Ministries and KenCrest Services.

Berks Kids Closet doesn't only have gently used clothing on hand, but just about "everything under the sun," Dalesandro said.

"It's an amazing amount of merchandise, not just clothing," she said. "We have toys, games, strollers, baby things, bikes, aquariums, and we've even had moon-bounce houses."

By early afternoon, a corner of the cavernous Expo Center had sold out of larger items like baby swings, high chairs and toddler beds.

"This is the lull before the half-off surge," said Dalesandro, explaining that the last hour of the sale was to feature heavy discounts, which usually brings a stampede of shoppers.

The first Berks Kids Closet sale was held in St. Thomas Church in Bernville, Berks County, and the response was so overwhelming that the couple moved the next sale to the Leesport Farmers Market, where another sale is set for April 6.

"We had so many requests to come to Lebanon County that we decided to go for it, and I'm glad we did," Dalesandro said. "It's exploding."

Shopper Serena Moore of Myerstown owns and operates the Elco Child Care Center and found a number of educational toys for the center. Holding a box of TRIO building blocks, she said, "These are very expensive in the stores. They'd cost about $25, but I got them for $5.50."